Grammar/Punctuation Diagnostic (From Andrea Lunsford’s The Everyday

Writer “The Top Twenty” Common Errors)

Instructors: Answer sheet available here (password protected)

Instructions: Read the following essay, marking any errors in grammar, punctuation, or word choice.
Then, in the 20 problems that follow the essay, choose the correct revision of each sentence from the
essay. If the original is correct as written, choose 'No error.'

Thinking Globally by Eating Locally

(1) When consumers enter almost any major supermarket today they can find an array of

produce that is truly dazzling. (2) There are bright red straw berries from Costa Rica, grapes from

Chile, bananas from Ecuador, and five different varieties of lettuce from California. (3) No matter

what season it is. (4) Organic fruits and vegetables—those grown without chemical fertilizers or

pesticides—are often the choice of the environmentally conscience shopper. (5) This promotes cleaner

air and water, of course. But is seeking out organic products always the most environmentally friendly

choice? (6) Unfortunately, if a consumer focuses on the organic label alone, they are not necessarily

thinking green.

(7) ”The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go

on their annual vacations,“ writes Barbara Kingsolver in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. (8)

Many consumers may never have considered where their food comes from. Even when they are aware

that produce travels a long distance to their local store, they may wonder why they should care. (9)

Most people probably like having fresh fruits and vegetables available in every season. Consider that

early Spring favorite, asparagus. (10) When shoppers go to the market in December, did they ever stop

to wonder why asparagus is available? (11) The asparagus must travel a great distance by plane to

reach the United States in December, because ”Don’t expect baby asparagus tips any time other than

March, April or May, unless you live in New Zealand or South America“ (Kingsolver 28–29).
 (12) In fact, the environmental impact of long-distance shipping is one of the major reasons that

environmentalists urge buyers to eat food grown near their homes. Plane travel is the most

environmentally destructive of all forms of transportation. (13) As Peter Singer and Jim Mason

explain, ”Transporting a given amount of food by plane uses the most energy per mile, almost twice as

much as road freight and 20 times more energy than sending it by ship or rail.“ (145) (14) Because

energy is expensive can increase the cost of food, but an additional concern is that carbon-dioxide

emissions from airplanes contribute to global warming. (15) Global warming is a controversial subject,

many experts agree that it contributes to the extinction of species, worldwide changes in rainfall

patterns, the melting of polar ice caps, and rising sea levels (Singer and Mason 144).

(16) Air-travel alone, however, isn’t entirely to blame for the damage that our methods of food

production can do to the environment. (17) Petroleum products are involved the agricultural process

before the food even leaves the farm. (18) Most fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, and tractor fuel are

made from petroleum and most farms use some or all of these to grow produce. But the journey from

farm to table consumes four-fifths of the total oil used in the production of conventionally grown fruits

and vegetables (Kingsolver 5).

(19) Purchasing locally grown food may not always be the most environmentally conscientious

choice the situation is often complicated. (20) Consumers cannot help the planet by driving gas-

guzzling vehicles from town to town to find local free-range eggs and produce. (21) There are still

many compelling reasons to choose food grown close to home. (22) Local food tastes better, and its

also healthier. In his blog ”On the Table,“ Michael Pollan writes that locally grown food ”is fresher,

and in produce, fresher means tastier and more nutritious. The longer produce spends in a truck, the

more tired it gets; many of its nutrients . . . deteriorate over time.“ (23) At the very least, people can

take an important step in preserving the earth for future generations by becoming conscious of their

own food choices such as considering where the food come from and how it was raised.
 (24) In many cases, consumers who want to help the environment and get healthy, delicious

food may be wise to choose locally grown produce, even if the produce is not organic. (25) Organic

fruits and vegetables are preferable if they are available locally. However, if the choice is between

organic strawberries from across the country and local berries, that are conventionally grown, shoppers

should know that the local fruits may ultimately be less costly to the environment.

Works Cited

Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. New York: Harper, 2007.

Pollan, Michael. ”On the Table: Eat Your View.“ New York Times 20 May 2006. 2 Feb. 2007
<http://pollan.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/05/20>.

Singer, Peter, and Jim Mason. The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter. New York:
Rodale, 2006.

Top 20 Quiz

Instructions:

Choose the correct revision of this sentence from the essay. If the original is correct as written, choose
'No error.'

1.

A. When consumers enter almost any major supermarket today, they can find an array of produce
that is truly dazzling.

B. Consumers who enter almost any major supermarket today they can find an array of produce
that is truly dazzling.

C. When consumers entering almost any major supermarket today can find an array of produce
that is truly dazzling.

D. When consumers enter almost any major super market today they can find an array of produce
that is truly dazzling.

E. No error
2.

A. Bright red straw berries from Costa Rica, grapes from Chile, bananas from Ecuador, and five
different varieties of lettuce from California are there.

B. Are bright red strawberries from Costa Rica, grapes from Chile, bananas from Ecuador, and
five different varieties of lettuce from California.

C. There are bright red strawberries from Costa Rica, grapes from Chile, bananas from Ecuador,
and five different varieties of lettuce from California.

D. There are bright red strawberries from Costa Rica, grapes from Chile, bananas from Ecuador
and, five different varieties of lettuce from California.

E. No error

3.

A. No matter, what season it is.

B. No-matter-what season it is, consumers can find fresh fruits and vegetables.

C. No matter what.

D. No matter what season it is, consumers can find fresh fruits and vegetables.

E. No error

4.

A. Organic fruits and vegetables, those grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, are often
the choice of the environmentally-conscience shopper.

B. Organic fruits and vegetables—those grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides—are

often the choice of the environmentally-conscious shopper.

C. Organic fruits and vegetables—those grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides—are

often the choice of the environmentally conscious shopper.

D. Organic fruits and vegetables, that are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, are
often the choice of the environmentally conscious shopper.

E. No error

5.

A. This promotes cleaner air and water, of course. But, is seeking out organic products always the
most environmentally friendly choice?
 B. Not using pesticides promotes cleaner air and water, of course. But is seeking out organic
products always the most environmentally friendly choice?

C. Not using pesticides, promotes cleaner air and water, of course. But is seeking out organic
products always the most environmentally friendly choice?

D. This promotes cleaner air and water, of course. But are seeking out organic products always the
most environmentally friendly choice?

E. No error

6.

A. Unfortunately, if consumers focus on the organic label alone, they are not necessary thinking
green.

B. Unfortunately, if consumers focus on the organic label alone, they are not necessarily thinking
green.

C. Unfortunately if a consumer focuses on the organic label alone, he is not necessarily thinking
green.

D. Unfortunately, if a consumer would focus on the organic label alone, he or she is not
necessarily thinking green.

E. No error

7.

A. "The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on
their annual vacations," writes Barbara Kingsolver in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
(28).

B. "The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on
their annual vacations," claims the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

C. "The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on
their annual vacations", writes Barbara Kingsolver in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

D. "The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on
their annual vacations," writes Barbara Kingsolver.

E. No error

8.
 A. Many consumers may never have considered where their food comes from, even when they are
aware that produce travels a long distance to their local store, they may wonder why they
should care.

B. Many consumers may never have considered where their food comes from. Even when they are
aware that produce travels a long distance to their local store. They may wonder why they
should care.

C. Many consumers may never have considered about where their food comes from. Even when
they are aware that produce travels a long distance to their local store, they may wonder why
they should care.

D. Many consumers may never have considered where their food comes from, and even when they
are aware that produce travels a long distance to their local store. They may wonder why they
should care.

E. No error

9.

A. Most people probably like having fresh fruits and vegetables available in every season. You
can consider that early Spring favorite, asparagus.

B. Most people probably like having "fresh" fruits and vegetables available in every season.
Consider that early spring favorite, asparagus.

C. Most people probably like having fresh fruits and vegetables available in every season.
Consider that early spring favorite, asparagus.

D. Most people probably like having fresh fruits and vegetables available in every season,
consider that early Spring favorite, asparagus.

E. No error

10.

A. When shoppers have went to the market in December, do they ever stop to wonder why
asparagus is available?

B. When you go to the market in December, do you ever stop to wonder why asparagus is
available?

C. When they go to the market in December, do you ever stop to wonder why asparagus is
available?

D. When shoppers go to the market in December, do they ever stop to wonder why asparagus is
available?

E. No error
11.

A. The asparagus must travel a great distance by plane to reach the United States in December. As
Kingsolver warns consumers, "Don't expect baby asparagus tips any time other than March,
April or May, unless you live in New Zealand or South America" (28–29).

B. The asparagus must travel a great distance by plane to reach the United States in December,
because baby asparagus tips are unavailable any time other than March, April or May, unless
shoppers live in New Zealand or South America (Kingsolver 28–29).

C. The asparagus must travel a great distance by plane to reach the United States in December.
"Don't expect baby asparagus tips any time other than March, April or May, unless you live in
New Zealand or South America" (Kingsolver 28–29).

D. The asparagus must travel a great distance by plane to reach the United States in December,
because shoppers "can't expect baby asparagus tips any time other than March, April or May,
unless they live in New Zealand or South America" (Kingsolver 28–29).

E. No error

12.

A. In fact, the environmental impact, of long-distance shipping, is one of the major reasons that
environmentalists urge buyers to eat food grown near their homes. Plane travel is the most
environmentally destructive of all forms of transportation.

B. In fact the environmental impact of long-distance shipping is one of the major reasons that
environmentalists urge buyers to eat food grown near their homes, plane travel is the most
environmentally destructive of all forms of transportation.

C. In fact, the environmental impact, of long-distance shipping, is one of the major reasons that
environmentalists urge buyers to eat food grown near their homes. Plane travel is the most
environmentally-destructive of all forms of transportation.

D. In fact, the environmental impact of long-distance shipping was one of the major reasons that
environmentalists urge buyers to eat food grown near their homes. Plane travel was the most
environmentally destructive of all forms of transportation.

E. No error

13.

A. As Peter Singer, and Jim Mason explain, "Transporting a given amount of food by plane uses
the most energy per mile, almost twice as much as road freight and 20 times more energy than
sending it by ship or rail" (145).
 B. As Peter Singer and Jim Mason explain, "Transporting a given amount of food by plane uses
the most energy per mile, almost twice as much as road freight and 20 times more energy than
sending it by ship or rail" (145).

C. As Peter Singer and Jim Mason explains, "Transporting a given amount of food by plane uses
the most energy per mile, almost twice as much as road freight and 20 times more energy than
sending it by ship or rail." (145)

D. As Peter Singer and Jim Mason explained, "Transporting a given amount of food by plane uses
the most energy per mile, almost twice as much as road freight and 20 times more energy than
sending it by ship or rail." (145)

E. No error

14.

A. Because energy is expensive, air travel can increase the cost of food, but an additional concern
is that carbon-dioxide emissions from airplanes contribute to global warming.

B. Being that energy is expensive can increase the cost of food, but an additional concern is that
carbon-dioxide emissions from airplanes contribute to global warming.

C. Because energy is expensive, which can increase the cost of food, but an additional concern is
that carbon-dioxide emissions from airplanes contribute to global warming.

D. Because energy is expensive, increasing the cost of food, but an additional concern is that
carbon-dioxide emissions from airplanes contribute to global warming.

E. No error

15.

A. Global warming is a controversial subject, which many experts agree it contributes to the
extinction of species, worldwide changes in rainfall patterns, the melting of polar ice caps, and
rising sea levels (Singer and Mason 144).

B. Global warming is a controversial subject. Many experts agree that it contributes the extinction
of species, worldwide changes in rainfall patterns, the melting of polar ice caps, and rising sea
levels (Singer and Mason 144).

C. Global warming is a controversial subject, but many experts agree that it contributes to the
extinction of species, worldwide changes of rainfall patterns, the melting of polar ice caps, and
rising sea levels (Singer and Mason 144).

D. Global warming is a controversial subject, but many experts agree that it contributes to the
extinction of species, worldwide changes in rainfall patterns, the melting of polar ice caps, and
rising sea levels (Singer and Mason 144).

E. No error
16.

A. Air travel alone however, isn't entirely to blame for the damage that our methods of food
production can do to the environment.

B. Air travel alone, however, isn't entirely to blame for the damage, that our methods of food
production can do to the environment.

C. Air-travel alone, however, isn't entirely to blame for the damage, that our methods of food
production can do to the environment.

D. Air travel alone, however, isn't entirely to blame for the damage that our methods of food
production can do to the environment.

E. No error

17.

A. Petroleum products involve the agricultural process before the food even leaves the farm.

B. Petroleum products, are involved in the agricultural process, before the food even leaves the
farm.

C. Petroleum products are involved in the agricultural process before the food even leaves the
farm.

D. Petroleum products are involved in the agricultural process, before the food even leaves the
farm.

E. No error

18.

A. Most fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, and tractor fuel is made from petroleum, and most farms
use some or all of these to grow produce. But the journey from farm to table consumes four-
fifths of the total oil used in the production of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
(Kingsolver 5).

B. Most fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, and tractor fuel are made from petroleum, and most farms
use some or all of these to grow produce. But the journey from farm to table consumes four-
fifths of the total oil used in the production of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
(Kingsolver 5).

C. Most fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, and, tractor fuel are made from petroleum, and most farms
use some or all of these to grow produce. But the journey from farm to table consumes four-
fifths of the total oil used in the production of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
(Kingsolver 5).
 D. Most fertilizers, pesticides, sprayers, and tractor fuel, are made from petroleum and most farms
use some or all of these to grow produce. But the journey from farm to table consumes four-
fifths of the total oil used in the production of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables
(Kingsolver 5).

E. No error

19.

A. Purchasing locally-grown food may not always be the most environmentally conscientious
choice, the situation is often complicated.

B. Purchasing locally grown food may not always be the most environmentally conscientious
choice; the situation is often complicated.

C. Purchasing locally grown food may not always be the most environmentally conscientious
choice, the situation is often complicated.

D. Purchasing locally grown food, may not always be the most environmentally conscientious
choice; the situation is often complicated.

E. No error

20.

A. Consumers cannot help the planet by driving gas guzzling vehicles from town to town to find
local free-range eggs and produce.

B. Consumers cannot help the planet by driving gas-guzzling vehicles from town to town to find
local free-range eggs, and produce.

C. Consumers cannot help the planet by driving gas-guzzling vehicles from town to town; to find
local free-range eggs and produce.

D. Consumers cannot help the planet by driving gas-guzzling vehicles from town to town when we
want to find local free-range eggs and produce.

E. No error

21.

A. There are still many compelling reasons to choose food grown closed to home.

B. There are still many compelling reasons to choose food, grown close to home.

C. There being still many compelling reasons to choose food grown close to home.

D. There is still many compelling reasons to choose food grown close to home.
 E. No error

22.

A. Local food tastes better, and it's also healthier. In his blog "On the Table," Michael Pollan
writes that locally grown food "is fresher, and in produce, fresher means tastier and more
nutritious. The longer produce spends in a truck, the more tired it gets; many of its nutrients . . .
deteriorate over time."

B. Local food tastes better, and it's also healthier. In his blog "On the Table," Michael Pollan
writes that locally grown food "fresher means tastier and more nutritious. The longer produce
spends in a truck, the more tired it gets; many of its nutrients . . . deteriorate over time."

C. Local food taste's better, and it's also healthier. In his blog "On the Table," Michael Pollan
writes that locally grown food "is fresher, and in produce, fresher means tastier and more
nutritious. The longer produce spends in a truck, the more tired it gets; many of its nutrients . . .
deteriorate over time."

D. Local food tastes better, and it's also healthier. In his blog "On the Table," Michael Pollan
writes that, locally grown food "is fresher, and in produce, fresher means tastier and more
nutritious. The longer produce spends in a truck, the more tired it gets; many of its nutrients . . .
deteriorate over time."

E. No error

23.

A. At the very least, people can take an important step in preserving the earth for future
generations by becoming conscience of their own food choices, such as considering where the
food comes from and how it was raised.

B. At the very least, people can take an important step in preserving the earth for future
generations by becoming conscious of their own food choices, such as, considering where the
food comes from and how it was raised.

C. At the very least, people can take an important step in preserving the earth for future
generations by becoming conscious of their own food choices, such as considering where the
food comes from and how it was raised.

D. At the very least, people can take an important step in preserving the earth for future
generations if they were conscious of their own food choices, such as considering where the
food comes from and how it was raised.

E. No error

24.
 A. In many cases consumers who want to help the environment and get healthy, delicious food
may be wise to choose locally grown produce, even if the produce is not organic.

B. In many cases, consumers who want to help the environment and get healthy, delicious food
maybe wise to choose locally grown produce, even if the produce is not organic.

C. In many cases, consumers, who want to help the environment and get healthy, delicious food,
may be wise to choose locally grown produce, even if the produce is not organic.

D. In many cases, consumers who want to help the environment and get healthy delicious food
may be wise to choose locally grown produce, even if the produce is not organic.

E. No error

25.

A. Organic fruits and vegetables are preferable if they are available locally. However, if the choice
is between organic strawberries from across the country and local berries that are
conventionally grown shoppers should know that the local fruits may ultimately be less costly
to the environment.

B. Organic fruits and vegetables are preferable if they are available locally. However, if the choice
is between organic strawberries from across the country and local berries that are
conventionally-grown, shoppers should know that the local fruits may ultimately be less costly
to the environment.

C. Organic fruits and vegetables are preferable if they are available locally. However, if the choice
is between organic strawberries from across the country and local berries, that are
conventionally grown, shoppers should know, that the local fruits may ultimately be less costly
to the environment.

D. Organic fruits and vegetables are preferable if they are available locally. However, if the choice
is between organic strawberries from across the country and local berries that are
conventionally grown, shoppers should know that the local fruits may ultimately be less costly
to the environment.

E. No error